Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
[Underlying causes of recurrent pneumonia]
G Cabezuelo Huerta1, S Vidal Micó, A Abeledo Gómez
1Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, España.
Insights
Recurrent pneumonia affects 6.4% of pediatric hospitalizations. Common causes include asthma, congenital heart defects, and aspiration syndrome, with underlying issues identified in most cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Clinical Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Recurrent pneumonia presents a significant clinical challenge in pediatric care.
- Understanding the predisposing factors is crucial for effective management and prevention.
Purpose:
- To determine the incidence of recurrent pneumonia in children aged 1 month to 14 years.
- To identify and describe the underlying causes of recurrent pneumonia in this pediatric population.
Summary:
- A retrospective review of 1644 pediatric pneumonia cases identified 106 (6.4%) with recurrent pneumonia.
- Underlying causes were found in 86.7% of recurrent pneumonia cases, most commonly asthma (30.4%), congenital cardiac defects (29.3%), and aspiration syndrome (27.1%).
- The majority of underlying causes were diagnosed before or during the initial pneumonia episode.
Impact:
- This study highlights the importance of investigating underlying conditions in children experiencing recurrent pneumonia.
- Findings can inform diagnostic strategies and treatment protocols for pediatric recurrent pneumonia.
- Identifies key conditions requiring focused attention in the management of pediatric respiratory infections.
Objective:
To determine the relative frequency and describe the predisposing causes of recurrent pneumonia in infants and children aged between 1 month and 14 years.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of a tertiary care pediatric hospital covering a 10-year period, from January 1994 through December 2003. Children with cystic fibrosis were not included in the analysis. Recurrent pneumonia was defined as at least two pneumonia episodes in a 1 year period or at least three episodes over a lifetime.
Results:
Of 1644 children hospitalized with pneumonia, 106 (6.4 %) met the criteria for recurrent pneumonia. An underlying cause was identified in 92 patients (86.7 %). Of these, the underlying cause was diagnosed prior to pneumonia in 67 (72.8 %), during the first episode in 12 (13 %) and during recurrence in 13 (14.1 %). Underlying causes included asthma in 28 patients (30.4 %), congenital cardiac defects in 27 patients (29.3 %), aspiration syndrome in 25 patients (27.1 %), immune disorder in nine patients (9.7 %), pulmonary anomalies in two patients (2.1 %), and anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in one patient (1 %).
Conclusions:
Recurrent pneumonia occurred in 6.4 % of all children hospitalized for pneumonia. The underlying cause was identified in 86.7 % of the children. The most common causes were asthma, congenital cardiac defects, and aspiration syndrome.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Pneumonia I: Introduction
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
01:14Atypical Pneumonia